In designing this website, one thing that I wanted to stand out was our instructor’s page. There are a lot of pages out there that introduce members of a team in various ways. Some sites will post a biographical sketch of some type, usually written by the team member with little guidelines, others a list of credentials.
Here, there are minimum requirements that our team members must meet (you can find them on the instructors page). Each few months – ideally quarterly – we will pose two questions of our instructors for them to answer if they would like. We post the answers on the instructor page, and you can find the archived answers here on the blog. We hope that you enjoy getting to know us!
January’s questions:
Where are you from? Why do you practice yoga?
Laurel Chiappetta
Where are you from? Aside from a brief 2 years in Boston, MA at the very beginning of my existence, and a year or so exploring Syracuse, NY, I’ve been living and learning in Pittsburgh, PA.
Why do you practice yoga? When I practice yoga, I feel strong and focused. It provides me an means of thought organization, body awareness, and calm.
Ashley Comer
Where are you from? I was born and raised in Pittsburgh. I am a proud Pitt alum and I’m proud to have graduated from one of the best philosophy programs in the world (right here in Oakland!)
Why do you practice yoga? For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a strong connection to my breath. My breath has always guided me and helped me to remain balanced. Through the practices of asana, pranayama, and meditation, I am able to draw strength on my mat, for my body, mind, and spirit, in my every day life.
Ed Dinnen
Where are you from? Rennerdale is my home town, not far from Carnegie. I have been orbiting Pittsburgh for decades. And live here now.
Why do you practice yoga? For me, yoga asana, pranayama and meditation offer pathways to explore this life and our interbeingness.
Kim Hoover
Where are you from? I was born in Japan and also lived in Germany and many places in the US with my family as I grew up! It’s been an interesting life, and I’m having fun in Pittsburgh as one of many stops.
Why do you practice yoga? I practice yoga because I treat my body, to the best of my ability, as a temple that knows its own needs physical, mental, and spiritual. That almost always means yoga because this practice is pure magic and always leaves me feeling better than when I began.
Shawna Locke
Where are you from? Even though I grew up in Chambersburg, PA, I always answer this question with “Pittsburgh.” I moved here after high school to attend the University of Pittsburgh and decided that Pittsburgh is where I was meant to be.
Why do you practice yoga? “You should try yoga or something,” my psychiatrist said to me in 2013 when I was looking for alternatives to the depression and anxiety medications I had been on for years. So I did. I initially came to yoga to heal, and keep coming back to it because it works for me.
Cassie Maloney
Where are you from? I grew up in West Mifflin, PA and now live in Pittsburgh, PA. Except for the time I spent at Slippery Rock University and travelling abroad, I’ve lived most of my life in the Pittsburgh Area!
Why do you practice yoga? I could write a book to answer this question! The short answer is that it helps me stay connected to my every day life and helps me gain skills I never imagined possible!
Anita Minahan
Where are you from? Born and raised in Pittsburgh, but love to travel.
Why do you practice yoga? I practice yoga because it provides me stress relief and helps me achieve peace and balance in my personal life. I love having the opportunity to help provide other people the chance to explore yoga to discover what it can mean for them … that is my passion.
Levi Redcross
Where are you from? I was born in Philidelphia but raised in Pittsburgh PA. I went to college for only a few semesters before realizing that I spent more of my time studying yoga than I spent studying for classes. After that, I got my teaching certification from Flex Yoga and dropped out.
Why do you practice yoga? The reason I practice yoga has evolved from year to year. I started practicing because I wanted my body to do anything that I asked of it–I think that’s still true. Nowadays I’m searching for meaning in my practice. I practice less for a reason, and more so hoping that the practice gives me purpose and all else I do.
Becky Roush
Where are you from? I was born in Lexington, Kentucky. About a month or two after birth my family moved to Butler, PA. I graduated high school from Rochester Area HS in Rochester, PA. In 1995 I moved to Pittsburgh to start work on my BS at University of Pittsburgh, and MPH in Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. So, I guess, I am mostly from Pittsburgh at this point.
Why do you practice yoga? I practice yoga because it makes me a better human both physiologically and socially. =)
Maggie Sestito
Where are you from? I was born and raised an hour north of Pittsburgh. I went to college in Ohio, and after graduating in the spring of 2018, I accepted a full time job in the city.
Why do you practice yoga? I grew up playing competitive soccer, but once I started college, I saw the need for a little more calm and quiet. I gave yoga a try and really enjoyed the change of pace, along with the physical, mental, and emotional benefits it offered. I kind of became addicted to the practice, and I am eager to share it with others!
Brian Pang
Where are you from? I was born Flushing, Queens, but grew up most of my life in the Pittsburgh area.
Why do you practice yoga? I love practicing yoga because it’s a constant reminder for me to take a step back and reflect on the things that are most important in my life.
